Dropper.



No. 878,668. V

PATE'NTED FEB. 11,' 1908. B. w. PHELPS & 0. GLINES.

DROPPER. APPLIUATION FILED 001214. 1907.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURTON W. PHELPS AND EARL O. GLINES, OF PROVIDENCE, RI-IODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOBS OF ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM EVERITT, OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

DROPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.f1 1, 1 908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BURTON W. PHELPS and EARL 0. Canvas, citizens of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Droppers; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon,-to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1 a side view of the upper end of a bottle having our improved dropper inserted therein. Fig. 2a sectional view of the dropper, detached. Fig. 3 a side view of the plug. Fig. 4 an end. view of the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in droppers and particularly to droppers adapted to be inserted into the necks of bottles so that the contents may be removed a drop at a time, being particularly adapted.

for use in medicine bottles when the dose is in drops, or as a substitute for the well known style of droppers consisting of a glass tube into which liquid is drawn by compressing the rubber bulb fixed at one end and commonly used in counting drops of medicine or'applying drops to the eyes, the object of the invention being the construction of a device which may be inserted into the mouth of a bottle when it is desired to drop a portion of the contents therefrom; and the invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claim.

In carrying out our invention We employ a stopper 2 of cork, rubber or other suitable material the size corresponding to the size of the bottles in which it is to be used. Vertically through the cork is an opening 3 in which is placed a tube 4 preferably of glass, and which tube extends beyond the inner end of the cork which I will term the vent tube. Parallel with the opening 3 is a similar opening 5 in which is placed a tube 6, which I will term an outlet tube. This outlet tube is preferably bowed at its outer end and terminates at a point near or at the bottom of the cork. Into the lower end of this tube 6 is placed a plug 7 preferably formed from hard rubber so as to closely fit the tube; and in one side of this plug is a narrow groove or channel 8.

When it is desired to remove a portion of the contents of the bottle the usual cork or stopper is removed, and our im roved device inserted, the stopper 2 closey fitting the mouth of the bottle so as to form a tight closure therefor. By placing the end of the thumb or finger over theupper end of the tube 4 the air in the top of the bottle will be forced out through the tube 6 so as to clear the same should it be obstructed, and also to provide for the flow of liquid. With the stopper in place if the bottle is inverted the liquid will slowly escape through the groove 8 and be discharged a drop at a' time through the mouth of the tube 6, the tube 4 providing a vent so that the liquid will flow freely, but owing to the obstructed passage in the plug the liquid will only be discharged a drop at a time, but every drop can be removed. After the desired amount has been removed from the bottle, the portion remaining in the tube when the bottle is held upright will return to the bottle. The device may then be removed until again required for use. By forming the tube of glass the device may be readily cleaned and used overand over again with different fluids.

We claim As an article of manufacture, a dr p er comprising a cork, a vent tube mounted in said cork and extending beyond the inner end thereof, an outlet tube mounted-in said cork and extending beyond the outer end thereof, and a plug located in the inner end of the outlet tube and formed with a longitudinal groove, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BURTON W. PHELPS. EARL C. GLINES. 

